Reinforced concrete shear walls as seismic force resisting systems may experience inelastic deformations if subjected to strong seismic excitations. These walls are designed to provide strength, stiffness, energy dissipation capacity and lateral drift control for seismic resistance. Shear wall deformability is largely dependent on adequate confinement of core concrete in boundary elements, prevention of longitudinal bar buckling, as well as proper design and detailing of the web section. Conventional transverse reinforcement placed in shear wall boundary elements consists of hoops, overlapping hoops and crossties, based on the geometry and number of longitudinal bars used. The confinement steel requirement of current building codes (ACI 318 or CSA A23.3) often results in congestion of steel cage due to the high transverse reinforcement ratio required. Placing multiple hoops with 135-degree bends combined with crossties to satisfy the code confinement requirements can create concrete placement and construction problems. In addition, the required time to assemble conventional steel cages with multiple individual ties per spacing can be time consuming, potentially impacting the overall cost and duration of construction. Welded Wire Reinforcement (WWR) is available in the construction industry as concrete reinforcement in the form of welded wire fabric (WWF) manufactured from relatively small diameter wires in comparison to the bar sizes typically used in structural applications. As an alternative to using conventional transverse hoops, prefabricated WWR grids can be used to provide required transverse reinforcement in boundary elements. WWR grids are manufactured using robots to weld cut steel pieces accurately before they are shipped to the job site, resulting in better construction quality and reduced construction time. However, research on the use of WWR is limited in the literature. Further experimental and analytical research is needed to establish design requirements for such reinforcement, especially when used in earthquake resistant construction with requirements for ductile response. The current research project, involved three main phases; i) tests of 3 large-scale reinforced concrete shear walls with WWR grids used as boundary element transverse reinforcement, ii) material tests of grid samples, including those cast in concrete, iii) non-linear finite element analysis. The wall tests were conducted under slowly-applied lateral deformation reversals to investigate their strength and ductility for suitability as seismic resistant structural elements. Material tests were conducted to have a better understanding of WWR behavior, especially their weld capacity. Analytical research was undertaken to expand the experimental findings on shear wall behavior, as well as to conduct parametric investigation to understand the impact of changes in grid strength and ductility. The results indicated that WWR grids can be used as boundary element transverse reinforcement in earthquake resistant shear wall. However, strength and ductility of grids should be established carefully prior to such application. Design strength of WWR grids should be established through burst tests to ensure ductile yielding of wire reinforcement prior to premature weld failure. Those grids that exhibit weld failures may be used with reduced design strength to permit the development of sufficient inelastic deformability in flexure-dominant shear walls.

Este trabalho apresenta uma análise teórica e experimental do desempenho de vigas de concreto armado com telas soldadas com relação à resistência, à força cortante e ao controle da fissuração. O programa experimental englobou cinco séries de vigas com variação dos seguintes parâmetros: largura e altura das vigas, taxa de armadura transversal, taxa de armadura lateral e tipo de ancoragem dos fios verticais da tela no bordo comprimido da viga. Os modelos experimentais foram constituídos por doze vigas VQ (15 x 40 x 305), relação a/d= 2,78 e sete vigas VS (20 x 70 x 540), a/d= 2,66, ambas com seção T (bf = 50 cm e hf = 10 cm). O esquema de ensaio foi de uma viga simplesmente apoiada, com duas forças concentradas aplicadas. A formulação proposta, elaborada com base na teoria do cisalhamento-atrito, considerando a contribuição da armadura lateral na resistência à força cortante, foi analisada mediante os resultados obtidos nos ensaios. Analisaram-se também as aberturas das fissuras de cisalhamento na alma. A contribuição da armadura lateral da tela soldada deve-se à alteração em dois mecanismos resistentes alternativos: aumento da parcela de engrenamento dos agregados afetada pelas menores aberturas das fissuras de cisalhamento na alma e pelo efeito de pino dos fios da armadura lateral nos pontos em que são interceptados pelas fissuras diagonais. De modo geral, as vigas armadas com telas soldadas apresentaram menores aberturas de fissuras de cisalhamento na alma, um panorama de fissuração mais sistemático e maior reserva de resistência nas proximidades do colapso. / This work presents a theoretical-experimental analysis of performance shear design and cracking control in reinforced concrete beams with welded wire mesh. The experimental program consisted of five series of beams with variation of the following parameters: width and depth of the beam, transversal reinforcement ratio, lateral reinforcement ratio and type of stirrup anchorage in beam compression zone. The tested specimens comprised of twelve beams VQ (15 x 40 x 305), shear span-to-depth a/d= 2,78 and seven beams VS (20 x 70 x 540), a/d= 2,66, both with T transversal section (bf = 50 cm e hf = 10 cm). The test setup was a simply supported beam, with two concentrated forces applied. The proposed model was based on shear friction, which took account of the lateral reinforcement contribution on shear design. This model was compared with the test results. It was also studied the shear crack widths on the web beam. The lateral reinforcement contribution is provided by two alternative strength mechanisms: the increasing of portion agreggate interlock affected by smaller diagonal crack widths and the dowel effect of lateral reinforcement wires intercepted by diagonal plane failure. Generally, the welded wire fabric beams presented smaller inclined shear cracks, a better cracking configuration and higher strength reserve close to colapse.

Pile foundations for bridges must often resist lateral loads produced by earthquakes and thermal expansion and contraction of the superstructure. Right-of-way constraints near bridge abutments are leading to an increased use of mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) walls below the abutment. Previous research has shown that lateral pile resistance can be greatly reduced when piles are placed close to MSE walls but design codes do not address this issue. A full-scale MSE wall was constructed and 24 lateral load tests were conducted on pipe, square and H piles spaced at distances of about 2 to 5 pile diameters from the back face of the wall. The MSE wall was constructed using welded-wire grid and ribbed strip inextensible reinforcements. This paper focuses on four lateral load tests conducted on steel pipe piles located behind a 20-ft section of MSE wall reinforced with welded-wire grids. Results showed that measured lateral resistance decreases significantly when pipe piles are located closer than about 4 pile diameters from the wall. LPILE software was used to back-calculate P-multipliers that account for the reduced lateral resistance of the pile as a function of normalized spacing from the wall. P-multipliers for this study were 0.95, 0.68, and 0.3 for piles spaced 4.3, 3.4 and 1.8 pile diameters from the wall, respectively. Based on results from this study and previous data, lateral pile resistance is relatively unaffected (p-multiplier = 1.0) for piles spaced more than approximately 3.9 pile diameters (3.9D) from the MSE wall. For piles spaced closer than 3.9D, the p-multiplier decreased linearly as distance to the wall decreased. P-multipliers were not affected by differences in reinforcement length to height (L/H) ratio or reinforcing type. Lateral pile loads induce tensile forces in the soil reinforcement such that, as pile load increases the maximum induced tensile force increases. Results also indicate that maximum tensile forces typically occurred in the soil reinforcement near the pile location. Past research results were combined with data from this study and a statistical regression analysis was performed using all data associated with welded-wire grid reinforcements. A regression equations was developed to predict the peak induced tensile force in welded-wire grids based on independent variables including lateral pile load, normalized pile distance (S/D), transverse distance (T/D), L/H ratio, and vertical stress. The equation has an R2 value of 0.79, meaning it accounts for approximately 79% of variation for all welded-wire grid reinforcements tested to date.

Este trabalho apresenta uma análise teórica e experimental do desempenho de vigas de concreto armado com telas soldadas com relação à resistência, à força cortante e ao controle da fissuração. O programa experimental englobou cinco séries de vigas com variação dos seguintes parâmetros: largura e altura das vigas, taxa de armadura transversal, taxa de armadura lateral e tipo de ancoragem dos fios verticais da tela no bordo comprimido da viga. Os modelos experimentais foram constituídos por doze vigas VQ (15 x 40 x 305), relação a/d= 2,78 e sete vigas VS (20 x 70 x 540), a/d= 2,66, ambas com seção T (bf = 50 cm e hf = 10 cm). O esquema de ensaio foi de uma viga simplesmente apoiada, com duas forças concentradas aplicadas. A formulação proposta, elaborada com base na teoria do cisalhamento-atrito, considerando a contribuição da armadura lateral na resistência à força cortante, foi analisada mediante os resultados obtidos nos ensaios. Analisaram-se também as aberturas das fissuras de cisalhamento na alma. A contribuição da armadura lateral da tela soldada deve-se à alteração em dois mecanismos resistentes alternativos: aumento da parcela de engrenamento dos agregados afetada pelas menores aberturas das fissuras de cisalhamento na alma e pelo efeito de pino dos fios da armadura lateral nos pontos em que são interceptados pelas fissuras diagonais. De modo geral, as vigas armadas com telas soldadas apresentaram menores aberturas de fissuras de cisalhamento na alma, um panorama de fissuração mais sistemático e maior reserva de resistência nas proximidades do colapso. / This work presents a theoretical-experimental analysis of performance shear design and cracking control in reinforced concrete beams with welded wire mesh. The experimental program consisted of five series of beams with variation of the following parameters: width and depth of the beam, transversal reinforcement ratio, lateral reinforcement ratio and type of stirrup anchorage in beam compression zone. The tested specimens comprised of twelve beams VQ (15 x 40 x 305), shear span-to-depth a/d= 2,78 and seven beams VS (20 x 70 x 540), a/d= 2,66, both with T transversal section (bf = 50 cm e hf = 10 cm). The test setup was a simply supported beam, with two concentrated forces applied. The proposed model was based on shear friction, which took account of the lateral reinforcement contribution on shear design. This model was compared with the test results. It was also studied the shear crack widths on the web beam. The lateral reinforcement contribution is provided by two alternative strength mechanisms: the increasing of portion agreggate interlock affected by smaller diagonal crack widths and the dowel effect of lateral reinforcement wires intercepted by diagonal plane failure. Generally, the welded wire fabric beams presented smaller inclined shear cracks, a better cracking configuration and higher strength reserve close to colapse.

A series of research studies have recently identified an issue called strain localization in welded wire reinforced (WWR) members. This phenomenon reportedly concentrates strains at welded cross wire locations and severely limit ductility. Those that identified the phenomenon used it to imply that WWR is unsafe because it does not warn of failure. This dissertation is investigating details to mitigate the strain localization effect and demonstrate the WWR can be used safely. A moment curvature analysis is developed using Response2000 program and calibrated using experimental data. Parametric study was developed to present a recommendation of details and minimum reinforcement required for WWR slabs. The effect of different types of WWR coating on mechanical properties were investigated. The dissertation next examined the effects of strain rate on the mechanical properties of WWR and traditional rebar. In total, fifty four slabs have been constructed using WWR and rebar with various cross wire spacing, using a realistic design. The strain localization phenomenon was not demonstrated, but WWR slabs are somewhat less ductile than traditionally reinforced members. The WWR members were shown to provide adequate ductility for warning of impending failure visually and with a well-accepted ductility measure. The WWR members were also shown the ability of load redistribution. The effect of coating demonstrates that both galvanizing WWR and coating WWR with epoxy has a positive effect on mechanical properties, along with adding corrosion resistance. The effect of strain rate shows that increase in loading rate tend to increase the yield and ultimate stresses and percent area reduction, however the loading rate increase does not have a significant effect on elastic modulus, elongation and uniform elongation.

Lightweight cellular concrete (LCC) is a cement, water, and air entrained mixture that consists of 25-80% voids. The air voids reduce the material strength but also decrease the material weight. Due to its lightweight properties LCC is an attractive alternative to soil backfill for retained structures, such as mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) walls. Although LCC is widely used behind MSE walls, limited information exists regarding the pullout strength of MSE wall reinforcements in LCC backfill. This research attempts to fill the knowledge gap through performing pullout tests on welded wire and ribbed strip reinforcements in MSE walls to determine the pullout friction coefficient (F*), reinforcement pullout behavior, and LCC properties. A large-scale test box (10 feet wide x 12 feet long x 10 feet high) supported by a steel resisting frame, was constructed, and filled with LCC backfill. Both the west and east MSE wall faces consisted of concrete walls. The west wall was supported by 16 ribbed strip reinforcements, while the east wall was supported by nine short, welded wire reinforcements. After backfilling the MSE wall, pullout tests were performed of the 12 ribbed strip reinforcements and all nine welded wire reinforcements. To determine different pullout friction coefficients (F*), different surcharge loads were applied through LCC self-weight, concrete reaction beams, and hydraulic jacks at the top of backfill. After performing the pullout tests on the large-scale test box, additional pullout tests were performed in two smaller (10 feet wide x 6 feet deep x 30 in. tall) MSE walls, each containing four ribbed strip reinforcements to determine the F* of ribbed strip reinforcements at moderate surcharge pressures. Results from these tests produced F* recommendations for ribbed strip and welded wire reinforcements. Additionally, a total of 130 LCC cylinder specimens were used to identify LCC material properties. Results of these tests show that the unconfined compressive strength of LCC is greatly dependent on the cast and cured unit weight, as well as the sample maturity. Comparing the UCS results to other work reveals a wide variation of UCS versus cured density, even though the same ASTM standard was applied for all tests. An equation for the secant modulus of LCC was created using UCS data from this thesis and other research conducted at Brigham Young University (BYU). Direct shear tests were also conducted on LCC cylinders cut to fit the confinement of a direct shear machine. The direct shear test results from this thesis agree with other research conducted at BYU.

The purpose of this research is to evaluate and compare the structural performance of composite floor slabs reinforced with 6 x 6 W1.4/W1.4 welded wire fabric (WWF) and STRUX 90/40 synthetic macro fibers. Slabs were subjected to flexural strength tests and concentrated load tests while monitoring load, steel deck strains, and deflections. Test results obtained from this test program were also compared to results from a similar test program conducted in 2001. Tests were also performed to obtain the average residual-strength of the fiber-reinforced concrete using the ASTM C 1399 (2003) standard test. All slabs were loaded until a complete failure was observed. The observed failure loads were compared to failure loads calculated by design guides published by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and the Steel Deck Institute (SDI). The flexural strength tests showed that composite slabs reinforced with synthetic macro fibers and WWF exhibited strength and behavior that was almost identical. The observed values of strength were also within the range that was predicted by ASCE prediction models. At a typical office design load of 70 psf, all slabs exhibited midspan deflections that were much smaller than those necessary for serviceability requirements. The concentrated load tests also showed that the observed strength of all composite slabs tested was above those values predicted by ASCE and SDI models. However, an effective comparison between the WWF-reinforced and synthetic macro fiber-reinforced slab was difficult due to a poor shear bond in the latter slab prior to testing. The results of the ASTM C 1399 test verified the ability of concrete reinforced with synthetic macro fibers to meet average residual-strength values recommended by the SDI. / Master of Science

Bridges often use pile foundations behind MSE walls to help resist lateral loading from seismic and thermal expansion and contraction loads. Overdesign of pile spacing and sizes occur owing to a lack of design code guidance for piles behind an MSE wall. However, space constraints necessitate the installation of piles near the wall. Full scale lateral load tests were conducted on piles behind an MSE wall. This study involves the testing of four HP12X74 H-piles and four HSS12X12X5/16 square piles. The H-piles were tested with ribbed strip soil reinforcement at a wall height of 15 feet, and the square piles were tested with welded wire reinforcement at a wall height of 20 feet. The H-piles were spaced from the back face of the MSE wall at pile diameters 4.5, 3.2, 2.5, and 2.2. The square piles were spaced at pile diameters 5.7, 4.2, 3.1, and 2.1. Testing was based on a displacement control method where load increments were applied every 0.25 inches up to three inches of pile deflection. It was concluded that piles placed closer than 3.9 pile diameters have a reduction in their lateral resistance. P-multipliers were back-calculated in LPILE from the load-deflection curves obtained from the tests. The p-multipliers were found to be 1.0, 0.85, 0.60, and 0.73 for the H-piles spaced at 4.5, 3.2, 2.5, and 2.2 pile diameters, respectively. The p-multipliers for the square piles were found to be 1.0, 0.77, 0.63, and 0.57 for piles spaced at 5.7, 4.2, 3.1, and 2.1 pile diameters, respectively. An equation was developed to estimate p-multipliers versus pile distance behind the wall. These p-multipliers account for reduced soil resistance, and decrease linearly with distance for piles placed closer than 3.9 pile diameters. Measurements were also taken of the force induced in the soil reinforcement. A statistical analysis was performed to develop an equation that could predict the maximum induced reinforcement load. The main parameters that went into this equation were the lateral pile load, transverse distance from the reinforcement to the pile center normalized by the pile diameter, spacing from the pile center to the wall normalized by the pile diameter, vertical stress, and reinforcement length to height ratio where the height included the equivalent height of the surcharge. The multiple regression equations account for 76% of the variation in observed tensile force for the ribbed strip reinforcement, and 77% of the variation for the welded wire reinforcement. The tensile force was found to increase in the reinforcement as the pile spacing decreased, transverse spacing from the pile decreased, and as the lateral load increased.